The Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CDD) says there are several death squads in Mozambique, numbering around 300 men. They have already taken several lives. And the new president is called upon to decide whether to eliminate or continue executions, since the execution orders come from strategic squads in the country.

According to the CDD, the groups of assassins have been operating in the country since the presidency of Joaquim Chissano until the present day. Since then, says the civil society organization, the death squads have moved from Maputo to other provinces of the country, and they have also widened the field of target elements.

Previously, people involved in corruption schemes or who had sensitive information about the government or political opponents were killed "discreetly", namely prominent members of Renamo, which until last year was the largest opposition party in parliament.

However, according to the NGO, in the last ten years, during Filipe Nyusi's rule, especially during election periods, the death squads have increased the number of targets to be shot.

In a brief analysis shared today, the CDD recalls the murders in 2015 of professor Giles Sistac, in 2019 of activist and observer Anastácio Mataleve, in 2024 of lawyer Elvino Dias, and of Podemos member Paulo Guambe.

Today, the death squads have 'created' in the epicenters, and act without the slightest description.

"Information about targets to be eliminated began to circulate openly on social networks, in a direct affront to society and the international community. The case of lawyer Elvino Dias and politician Paulo Guambe is emblematic: both were shot dead, in an act that had already been previously announced on social networks by figures close to power," it reads.

For the CDD, the groups of assassins act "with total impunity", not least because on January 15, during the inauguration of the President of the Republic, Daniel Chapo, three young people were murdered by a death squad linked to the Rapid Intervention Unit.

In this situation, CDD questions the role of Daniel Chapo: Dismantle or Continue?